Question

A client with tuberculosis (TB) has a prescription for rifampin (Rifadin). What instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching plan?

1) Yellow-colored skin is common with this medication.
2) The medication must always be taken on an empty stomach.
3) Wearing glasses instead of soft contact lenses will be necessary.
4) As soon as the cultures come back negative, the medication may be stopped.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the client to wear glasses instead of soft contact lenses while taking rifampin to avoid staining the lenses. The client should also be educated about the importance of completing the full course of medication and taking it with food to reduce side effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching a client with tuberculosis (TB) who is prescribed rifampin (Rifadin), the nurse should include the instruction that wearing glasses instead of soft contact lenses will be necessary. This is because rifampin can cause the urine, saliva, sweat, tears, and other body fluids to turn a reddish-orange color, which can permanently stain soft contact lenses. Therefore, it is important for the client to switch to glasses to avoid damaging their contact lenses. In addition to this instruction, the nurse should also emphasize the importance of completing the full course of medication even if the client's symptoms improve or the cultures come back negative. This is because stopping the medication prematurely can lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of TB. Lastly, the nurse should teach the client about the importance of taking the medication with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.